Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Monday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the return of business tycoons Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya from United Kingdom, saying that the Centre should avoid giving 'tantalising' news and should come out clear that by when will these be brought back and made answerable.

Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Monday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the return of business tycoons Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya from United Kingdom. (Reuters)

Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Monday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the return of business tycoons Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya from United Kingdom, saying that the Centre should avoid giving ‘tantalising’ news and should come out clear that by when will these be brought back and made answerable.

Speaking to ANI, Khurshid said, “I would imagine if the government is serious about the presence of these two people on the Indian Territory so that they can be made answerable and if they have any defence they can put that defence as well.”

“What is the delay? I think instead of tantalising news of this nature, the government should actually say that this is what the problem is, and at least should give some idea that by when will they do it, if at all they want to do it,” the senior Congress leader added.

His remarks comes a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India has not yet approached the United Kingdom for extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former IPL boss Lalit Modi, wanted by Indian investigators in multiple cases.

Swaraj yesterday said that in the case of Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent her ministry the extradition request but certain changes were suggested and the probe agency was yet to respond.

With regard to Lalit Modi’s case, she said the Enforcement Directorate has not sent the required documents.

Both liquor baron Mallya and Lalit Modi are wanted by the Enforcement Directorate in its money laundering probe and the agency has also sought a global arrest warrant against them from the Interpol.